Apparatus for producing sheet glass



Nov. l0, 1931. J. L. BRAKE APPARATUS FCR PRoDUcING SHEET GLASS Filed May 19, 1927 Strom,

Patented Nov. 10, 1931 uNfITEni.- STATES; Patr ENfrs onmjcm -Joimn BRAKE, or .ToLEnidoHid AssIGNonTo LIBBEY-oWENs-ronnemss,comuni.

OFl TOLEDOVOHIO, .A CORPORATION .OFOHIO APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING" SHEET"GIS`S i The present invention relates :to a process; andapparartus for producing: sheet glassa-"f f An/important object-of,theinventionris to provide in'sheet glass apparatus, aslab haar 5 ing two `substantially identica-ly sides.l said slab being mounted in a manner that first one ff side and then the other maybe usedto produce sheet glass.

Another object of the invention is to pro.- videmeansy whereby Vmolten glass may he meltedy and'n refinedin :a 1ec-e] 3tacle,after which it is transferred to a pivoted slab from Whichthe molten vglass Vis removed in `sheet` fOl'm:

provide means of this nature including a pivoted-slabfarrangedin a manner that amass of -molten `glass lmay be created on one side f thereof, 'after which the -slah--is tilted to pergomit-removnl .of the-glassl in sheet form,the`

slabthen being` turned over so that a second mass-of glass can be created-on the-- sideV op-A posite to the first sidei-while in the meantime the ywaste vglass can-be removed :from the-sidev` first `used:v`l` l A further and important `oloject ofthe 1n-` ventionwisl tofvprovide in fsheetflglassfappa# ratus, a slahmdi a pair of sheetformingrolls arrangedadjacent the slab in a manner-that`` 30 molten glass-'may be flowed or ldrawn from the-slab andpassed between said rolls to produce; a flatsheetof predetermined thickness;

Other-objects and advantages of the'inven-t tion -Will become more: apparent during thecourse of the lfollowing description. A

In the drawings wherein likenumerals are employed to designate Alike partslthroughout* The numeral 5 designates a tank provided- .with a .plunalityof Vopenings ordinarily`v Still lanother object ofthe inventionA is to closed.: .by .means tof; doors \.:orf.the ;likBr-. .1.. A-.-.:-.. plurality of Vmovable?potsfB arezadaptedfto :al

be .arranged withinxsa-id .1-furnaceithe'fapotsxn furnace through the openingsrni. Suitableniug;

glass batchI ingredients: may: be..deposited^.1in` thepots 8 whereftheyfare suhjecte'drfto highrnt.- temperatures createdbymeansof theheatingnis means 9. After asuilicientquantity olfglassrr.

has been; melted in the pots=;8,fthe:temperaf;i60

ture of; the/furnace `is;:preteralolyffgso cones trolledfthat the .glassnin the pots willihpexfen mttedto become. completely refinednf Ordifza: narily,a considerable lengthgofgtme. shouldn" be permitted; for the. .proper:rening::ofjthernf glass, so :that together witlfgtlieapnopenf-timeqn" Velement andritemperature; control,-.;a fhiglmr quality of .glass will be .fformed in said ,potsiif Inl-Fig, 2 .is illustrated a sheetirfo'rnlin'g mechanism :comprising a housing. :10s-having. 70 arranged therein rotatablexlnembersfflluposiers i. tioned in a manner-to creates sheet'formlngn: .KpasslQA .Arranged-in proximity-tombe rollsdl-.fisea p1votedf -slabl 13, fhavingrgtwo substantiwllyl .75

.identical sides 14. The endszottheislabuli" are curved to form: the@ eXtens-ionslnj Tlif slahl :may ,he mounted yon .suitable a trunnions; y17 "illustrated in 'Fig.,;4, .-fandwbymea'ns fofzn .11.;

gear 18 operable through the meansrlQxthenSOC- slab.v may; iberotated. l Y

InFigzfQ theslah is in .a positiomsuchithntn;

a massi .of imoltenglass 20.niayubeaxdeposited fr thereonrfrom the pot 21..; The size ofthe pot f and the slab'is preferably such thatthe entire :f8.5 f??- pot full maybefpoured upon .the slab; atlzonekz' time,y lalthough; of course the inventionf is .in

no way restricted to the size of either thezpotz'f.vn

or the slab. After the desired amnuntof slab 135lit is .movedlsofthat a owiofglassiwillfzl p ass f-loet-weenv roll-s 1 11iA to.; 1 create;` a sheets-:of 't glass 22, .the thickness of. saidv sheet" being..\.:.1.

dependent;l upon fthe.; 1 distance.: loetvireelfrv :they:v

rolls.v The sheet; -d2 .gmay' be c'onveyedviby 19D means of the rolls or theilikef23intof.anfan+x= nealingfleer2li.; `Afternmostfof th'ezglass. has been; removedafrom.the'slabs 13 i'n sheetfformg's.

it is'frotatcds sothat thezsidewwhich: hasazbeen n. uppermost .duringr the sheets forming.foperfasff.:l0Q

tion is underneath where it may be subjected to the action of gas burners or the like 25.

The burners 25 are applied to the slab ina manner that waste glass will be removed therefrom. The glass will melt and drop into a receptacle 26 contained in the bottom of the compartment 10. From time to time the receptacle 26 may be removed or replaced so that the waste glass can be easily taken from said'compartment l0. f

Simultaneously, with the removal of the waste glass from the bottom of the slab a new deposit is made upon the upper exposed side of the slab. The slab is tilted as before mentioned to produce a sheet of glass, and this operation is repeated as often as desired. It willV thus be seen that while one side is being used to support a mass of molten glass, the opposite side is being cleaned and prepared for the next flow.

The slab 13 and the rolls ll are preferably formed from a non-corrosivemetal although the invention is not restricted to the use of any particular material. Due to the fact ithat the molten glass has been completely refined before it is placed upon the slab, the inished sheet will be, practically speaking, free from seeds, blisters and similar glass defects. Due to the line quality of the sheet 22"*it is particularly useful as a plate glass blank or blanks. IVhen used as a plate glass blank of course, it is subjected to surfacing after it is removed from the leer 24:. i

The thickness of the sheet may be controlled by the inclination of the slab 13 and the distance between the rolls 1l. The rolls may be internally cooled or heated by air, water or other temperature control mediums. The rolls are preferably positively driven.

All the driving means have been left out'for the sake of clearness.

Due to the fact that the slab is surrounded by a suitable housing, the glass 20-will not become unduly chilled before it is formed into a sheet.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subj oined claims.

I claim:

1. In sheet glass apparatus, a slab havingftwo substantially identical sides, each end of the slab terminating in an angular extension, means for turning the slab over, means for depositingmolten glass on the upturned side of the slab, and means for forming said molten glass into a sheet.

2. In sheet glass apparatus, a slab having two substantially identical sides, each end of the slab terminating in an angular extension,im eans for turning the slab over, means for depositing molten glass on the upturned side of the slab, and means for rolling said molten glass into a sheet.

3. In sheet glass apparatus, a slab having two substantially identical sides, each end of the slab terminating in an angular extension, means for pivotally mounting the slab so that first one side and then the other may be upturned, means foi' deposit-ing a mass of molten glass on the upturned side of the slab, and means for rolling the molten glass into a sheet. p

4L. In sheetglass apparatus, a slab having two substantially identical sides, each end of the slab terminating in an angular extension, means for depositing a mass of molten glass on the upturned side of the slab, a pair of rolls arranged to create a sheet forming pass mounted in proximity to the slab, and means for tilting said slab whereby the molten glass flows therefrom and through the sheet forming pass where it is rolled into a sheet.

5. In sheet glass apparatus, a slab having two substantially identical sides, each end of the Vslab terminating in an angular extension, means for depositing a mass of molten glass on the upturned side of the slab, a pair of rolls arranged to create a sheet forming passmounted in proximity to the slab, means for flows therefrom and through lthe sheet forming pass where it is rolled'into a sheet, and means for cleaning the underside of the slab.

6. In sheet glass apparatus, a slab having two substantially identical sides, each end of the slab terminating in an angular extension, means for depositing a mass of molten glass on the upturned side of the slab, a pair of rolls arranged to create a sheet forming pass mounted in proximity to the slab, means for tilting said slab whereby the molten glass flows therefrom and through the sheet forming pass where it is rolled into a sheet, and side members carried by the slab to retain the molten glass thereon.

7. In sheet glass apparatus, a slab having two substantially identical sides, each end thereof terminating in an angular extension, the extensions pointing in opposite directions, means for pivotally mounting the slab so that it may be completely revolved, means for depositing molten glass on the upturned surface of the slab, said slab being positioned in a manner that a pocket is formed, one of the extensions serving to retain the molten glass on the slab and the other of said extensions acting as anoverflow lip as the slab is revolved to flow the glass therefrom, and

so that it may be completely revolved, means for depositing molten glass on the upturned surface of the slab, said slab being positioned in a manner that a pocket is formed, one of the extensions serving to retain the molten glass on the slab and the other of said extensions acting as an overflow lip as the slab is revolved to flow the glass therefrom, and means for rolling a sheet from the glass flowing over said extension. v

9. In sheet glass apparatus, a slab having two substantially lidentical sides, each end thereof terminating in an angular extension, the extensions pointing in opposite directions, means or pivotally mounting the slab so that it may be completely revolved, means for depositing molten glass on the upturned surface of the slab, said slab being positioned in a manner that a pocket is formed, one of the extensions serving to retain the molten glass on the slab and the other of said extensions acting as an overflow lip as the slab is revolved to flow the glass therefrom, means for forming a sheet from the glass flowing over said extension, and means for cleaning the underside of the slab while said sheet is being formed.

Si ned at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and tate of Ohio, this 17th day of May, 1927.

JOHN L. BRAKE. 

